Experience key for Greene: 'I'm never going to stop learning'

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Just a day after he was named to the Reds’ starting rotation to begin the 2022 season, right-hander Hunter Greene ran into a thunderous White Sox lineup in a Cactus League nightcap on Thursday.

Greene finished around his 50-pitch limit, but he lasted just two frames while allowing seven runs (five earned) on five hits, including two resounding home runs. But there were positives to take away, as well. Greene struck out four, including the power-packed triumvirate of Tim Anderson, Luis Robert and Eloy Jiménez in the first inning, all of which came on fastballs that reached triple digits.

“I’ll never drop that pitch or not have confidence in that pitch,” Greene said of his fastball, which boasts a rare 80 grade on the scouting scale. “I can definitely throw that pitch at any time, in any scenario, anywhere in the zone and I’ve got a lot of confidence with it.”

Greene, ranked the Reds’ top prospect per MLB Pipeline and No. 22 in MLB's Top 100 overall, has pitched to a 9.00 ERA across three spring appearances (two starts). He is a candidate to start Cincinnati’s Cactus League finale Tuesday before making his Major League debut on April 10 against the reigning World Series champion Atlanta Braves, a lineup as stout as the White Sox group he faced at Goodyear Ballpark.

“I’m never going to stop learning; it’s part of the game and I feel like I’m in a really good place,” Greene said. “Every great pitcher has games like this and it’s just part of it, and I’m looking forward to just going out and competing next game. That’s the beautiful thing, there’s always another game.”